Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-12-23
ONE CHRISTMAS.
BY OLIVE HARPER.

"That there Marthy Avery is the foolish
est critter that ever lived, l swan to man!
Here's her father dead, and she left with
all that brood OF her stepmother's young
ones; and instead of sendin' 'em to their
grandfather she ups and says she is gon'
to support 'em herself. She won't get my
Jabez IL that's her idee, for I'll just put
my foot down"
"Martha is II likely girl"
"Thcres three gals and a boy baby, and
they hain't no call nor claim on her,
There's them as would make her good
forehanded provider, but no man won't
take a hull family on his hands to onct
It's bad enough marrying widders, but
nobody wants lot of sickly young ones
a-eating up all the substance of farm,
No, indeedp'
''wall, you know, Mrs. Hemphill, Mar
thy feels as If the children hes as good a
right as herself to the farm; they was her
fathers"
Yes; but he didn't make no will, and
the farm and the settin' out was all Mar
thy's own mothers, SO nobody can't dis
pute her claim. Besides, what does II slip
of a girl like that know bout carryin on
farm, I'd like to know?n
Its too bad; but as you say, she'll
find how hard it is to manage farm.
am greatly exercised for her, and Ill ask
the sisterhood TO make her subject of an
address to the throne of grace, - said Mrs.
Pringle as she gave little sigh, and
folded up her kitting to take her seat at
Mrs. Hcmphll's well nlled tea table, for
she had ridden over to spend the after
noon and have a good visit
Jabez, Mira Hemphill's only son, and
his father came In and took their accus-
toned places, and the father asked very
long blessing, and reached his hand out
and captured biscuit at the same mo-
ment that he delivered his amen"
Jahcz was a handsome, frank young
fellow, who worked very hard and had no
vices, but who possessed fair share of
manly virtues.
He found time, somehow, after the null
tifarous duties on farm were done, to
study, and to slip over to the Avery farm
very often.
Being steady and handsome young
fellow, his mother naturally looked on
him with pride, and now she felt that she
was doing her duty rs a wise mother in
discountenancing such foolish action on
Martha's part as adopting her three little
half sisters and baby brother.
Meanwhile. Martha was working, as il
her life depended upon it, over refrac-
tory churnlng, and her pretty face was
wrinkled into frown and her cheeks
famed crimson, and little sparks of anger
seemed to shoot from her eyes that had
yet a suspicion Of tears not far Off.
She jerlled the dasher with vindctive
little movements, as if she wished she had
some particular person under tho dasher,
and withal it did seem as if that butter
was bewitched.
II don't wonder it won't Gomez said
Martha, at last. Hateful old thinGl As
If depended upon her, or MS il | wanted
her 'Jabez. | guess | can manage q
farm; Mt any rate, | must try, for with
Gods help will take care of those poor
little children. Addie can hclp take care
Of the others-and think she is cruel
Ohh
This exclamation was b. ought forth by
the sudden sight of JGbes, ~ he sprung
over the fence and walked mo the well
Kept kitchen without word Of warning
or invitation.
lie walked directly up to Martha and
clasped both of his hands around hers as
she held tho 'dasher,'' and said cheerily:
"Wcll, Martic, how are you? Here, you
sit down and let me do this, and can
look at you all the while, and that will
pay me for my work"